The Grand Catastrophe

...

Calvaria looked on ahead. The sky was dark, yet the horizon was alight with flames. Part of the city had been engulfed in fire. It wasn’t true flame, as it didn’t really hurt anyone who entered it. Yet it did empower the demons within. It was a useful skill for any demon to have in their arsenal.

Around her was the members of Blue Rose. Gagarin and Tia were simply unconscious. They had been resurrected, but they had yet to wake up. It was slightly infuriating for her. She wished to know what they knew of Yaldabaoth, or at least Demiurge’s guise as him.

Though, she had to be patient. She simply wished to know their perspective and see how they were doing building up their lore for her mythos. From what she knew, it was going fairly well.

They were in the very same area in which she had fought Yaldabaoth. The cracks in the stone under her feet were a testament to that. Yet, the flames in front of her, in the city, reminded her that the plan wasn’t done. No rest for the wicked, and all that.

“Those are the Flames of Gehenna,” she said, pointing to said fires in the city, “if I remember correctly, he had said that he would surround a section of the city in flame,” she said, her hand dropping down to her sole sword, and gripping the pommel.

The rest of the gathered adventurers looked to her with seriousness. It seemed that they were taking her words seriously. That was good, that was very good. In fact, it was better than fine. She wouldn’t need to double down on her words here. That would take time.

“This demon lord said so?” Lakyus asked, and Calvaria nodded her head.d.

“That is right. He said that he would envelope part of the city in fire. He also said d that there was an item within the city section that bound and enslaved demons. I believe I know what that tool is,” she explained, earning several questions from the lot of them.

She placated them with her hand that wasn’t on her sword. She then made to speak. Her voice like a salve on the minds of those around her. She couldn’t help but feel the sight of Anna on her back.

Soon, it was discussed that they must discuss this with the princess, and all the nobles that had taken part in the plan to attack Eight Fingers in a meeting. This would be done so that nothing was missed. Calvaria also was fairly certain that they would be asking more as to why she knew of such things.

She was ready for whatever questions they had for her. The only worry was that she only had to get her lore right. The rest of her party and herself needed to make sure that they got their stories right as well. The plan would collapse if they didn’t do so.

The lot of them, Darkness and Blue Roses, moved to the meeting location that they had set up for the plan to attack Eight Fingers. Everyone already knew that was where they needed to head off to, so they went there. That was the long way of saying that they got a move on.

...

Princess Renner Stood at the head of the table. Around it were the people that would be taking part in this endeavor. Her friend Lakyus and her compatriots were there. Darkness, the ones who had re-laid all that they knew of this demon. Then finally was her pet, Climb.

Her pet was eyeing up the woman in front of him with adoration, his eyes locked onto the sword at her hip, and then locking onto her chest. Whatever the reason he was doing that, she would need to tease him later for it. He couldn’t be looking at other women that way, after all.

Behind him was the man named Brain Unglaus. From what she membered about him, he was the second-place spot for the position of warrior chief. He would be needed for their plan.

Though, now that she was looking at him, he seemed to be peering at the chest of Calvaria as well. Maybe Brain simply liked women in plate, and had brushed it off to her pet when they had interacted together? That might be it, that made the most sense, at least right now.

She then spoke, her tone serious and unflinching. The other around her locked to her. For both guidance and as an anchor in this time. All part of her plan, and the shiver it sent up her spine wasn’t bad either.

“We have concocted a plan, using the knowledge that the good lady Calvaria has gifted us with,” she gestured to Calvaria, and she nodded her head, “with this, we can go in and slay all the demons that he has summoned from hell; and banish him back to it. Please listen well, this plan is a bit complicated.”

...

Climb looked at the buildings around him. They were emptied, their owners either dead or kidnapped. Which, he knew not. Yet it didn’t really matter right now. Right now, he was sent to kill demons, and kill some more demons. The others were in charge of the rest of his princess’s plan.

Though, it would matter after he slew all said demons with his allies. It was strange to him. Just a week before, he would have never thought that he would be fighting besides such powerful people such as the Blue Roses and Darkness.

What he was slightly confused about, was why Calvaria hadn’t grabbed her estoc. Sure, it was a public place, but he was fairly certain that she didn’t care. Before, she had simply pulled it from her chest. Yet now, she hadn’t. She was missing a sword for crying out loud!

He took a deep breath, and sighed as he let it out. During that whole meeting, he had felt the Princess’s eyes on him. He was fairly certain that he was going to get an earful after this whole thing. Yet, he had also seen that Brain was looking as well.

“Alright everyone,” Lakyus said, bringing him from his thoughts, “I want the iron and copper ranks to scout out the houses. The res shall follow us and help slay all these enemies,” she said, her tone harsh.

All listened to her, and climb moved to follow the street of the area to the center. That was where they theorized the demon lord’s direct subordinates to be. From what he had been told, along with the rest, was that he several maids that served him.

Yet, they weren’t his. They didn’t belong to him, just loaned to him. They followed his orders because they were told to by their leader. They were to kill the other demons that he had, the ones that were actually his.

Yet, as he rushed forward, he noticed something. Sounds of wings beating the air. He looked up to the sky, and saw one of said demons right there. His stomache dropped, and he noticed Lakyus walking up to fight the foe.

...